Mercury switch



Jan. 20, 1953 5, DENNING 2,626,333

MERCURY SWITCH Filed Oct. 50, 1950 Patented Jan. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERCURY SWITCH Gabriel J. Denning, Hoxie, Kans Application October 30, 1950, Serial No. 192,997

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in mercury switches and more particularly to a novel electrode construction disposed in a rockable closed container to alternately make and break two independent circuits upon the opposite tilting movement of the switch.

An important object of the invention is to provide an electrode construction whereby both circuits remain closed when the switch is horizontal and one circuit is broken when the switch is tilted while the other switch remains closed.

Another object is to provide an elongated switch designed for cutting off all circuits by a partial rotary or predetermined turning movement of the switch about its longitudinal axis.

A further object is to provide a mercury switch of simple and practical construction, which is eflicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the switch with both circuits closed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged group perspective view of the electrodes.

Figure 4 is a longitudinalsectional view showing the switch tilted in one direction to open or break one circuit.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the switch tilted in an opposite direction to open the other circuit.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 1 and showing the switch turned into a position to close all circuits, and

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the switch turned into a position to open all circuits.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a tube of glass or other suitable insulation material and of substantially pear-shape in cross section to form a relatively narrow longitudinal pocket 2 along one side of the tube and a relatively wide longitudinal pocket 3 along a diametrically opposite side of the tube. The ends of the tube are closed by caps or other suitable closures 4 and 5.

An elongated transversely curved or arcuate center contact strip 8 and a pair of relatively short similarly shaped end contacts 9 and Ill are placed in the tube in spaced apart end to end relation with respect to each other, the center contact 8 having a lead-in electrode H soldered or otherwise fixedat its ofiset central portion 12 thereto adjacent one longitudinal side edge of the center contact and with the ends I3 and I4 of the lead-in electrode centered in the caps 4 and 5 and with end l3 projecting outwardly of cap 4, while end I4 is recessed at the inside of the cap 5.

An electrode I5 is soldered or otherwise fixed to end contact 9 longitudinally-thereof along its rear curved surface and in longitudinal alignment with oifset center portion 12 of lead-in electrode H and projects outwardly of cap 4 in spaced parallel relation to end l3 of the lead-in electrode. An electrode [6 is similarly fixed to the other end contact In in longitudinal alignment with the ofiset center portion l2 of lead-in electrode II and projects outwardly of cap 5 in spaced parallel relation to end 14 of the lead-in electrode.

The outer end 13 of electrode II is connected to a suitable source of current by a circuit wire I? and a circuit wire l8 leads from electrode l5 to an electrical device (not shown), such as the motor of an automatic washing machine, while a circuit wire I9 leads from electrode [6 to a second electrical device (not shown), such as a solenoid used with the machine.

In the operation of the switch, mercury 20 contained in tube I will close both circuits connected to the electrodes l5 and It when the tube l is supported in a horizontal position and when the tube is tilted in either direction the mercury will flow toward the lower end of the tube to retain the circuit for the lower electrode closed and to open or break the circuit connected to the upper electrode.

All or either of the circuits remain closed while the tube is held in a position so that the mercury will be maintained in the wide pocket 3, as shown in Figure 6, and all of the circuits may be broken by turning or rotating the tube on its longitudinal axis in a direction so that the mercury will settle in the narrow pocket 2, as shown in Figure '7.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in 3 this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new isi 1. A mercury switch comprising a tubular mercury container, a central contact in the container, a pair of end contacts in the container aligned with and spaced from the ends of the central contact, a lead-in electrode connected to the cen tral contact and supported in both ends of the container, and an electrode connected toeach of the end contacts and supported respectively in their adjacent ends of the container.

2. A tiltable and rotatable mercury switch comprising a tubular mercury container having a relatively narrow pocket extendinglongitudinal- 1y along one side thereof anda relatively wide pocket extending longitudinally at an opposite side of the container, a central elongated transversely arcuate contact and a pair of arcuate end contacts in and conforming to the arc of the wide pocket in spaced apart longitudinal alignment with each other, a lead-in electrode having a central portion connectedto the center contact and having end portions supported in the ends of the container and spaced from the end contacts, and an electrode connected to each of the end contacts and supported respectively in their adjacent ends of the container, said container being adapted to hold a quantity of mercury sufllcient to alternately close a circuit between the center contact and either end contact upon an opposite tilting movement of the container and when the container is held in a position with the wide pocket lowermost, and to move all of the contacts into an open circuit position by a turning movement of the container about its longitudinal axis to position the narrow pocket lowermost.

3. A mercury switch comprising a tubular containena central contact and a pair of end contacts mounted in said container, said contacts being in alignment with one another and being laterally-offset from the axis of the container, said contacts being spaced from one another, a lead in electrode connected to said central contact and an electrode connected to each of the end: contacts.

GABRIEL J. DENNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

